Image forming apparatus, information processing system, image forming method, and program

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper in accordance with a printing job includes: a communication unit that receives meeting information concerning a meeting; a storage unit that stores the meeting information received by the communication unit; an editing control unit that edits the meeting information stored in the storage unit in accordance with an execution time of the printing job; an operation display unit that freely outputs images or voices captured in the meeting based on the meeting information edited by the editing control unit; and an output control unit that controls output of the images or voices captured in the meeting and output from the operation display unit, wherein the output control unit finishes output of the images or voices captured in the meeting and output from the operation display unit before completion of the printing job.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-113492filed on Jun. 7, 2016 including description, claims, drawings, andabstract are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, aninformation processing system, an image forming method, and a program.

Description of the Related Art

There has been known an image forming apparatus which functions as amulti-function peripheral (MFP) performing a scanner function, afacsimile function, a copying function, a printer function, a datacommunication function, or a server function in a company office or likeplaces.

This type of image forming apparatus also provides various supportsaimed at meetings. For example, there has been proposed such an imageforming apparatus which encourages particular persons planning toparticipate in a meeting to join the meeting in the middle of themeeting (for example, see JP 2011-061702 A).

A related-art disclosed in JP 2011-061702 A is configured to givenotification to particular persons planning to participate in a meetingin the middle of the meeting. For such particular persons, it ispreferable to be allowed to participate in the meeting only at the timeof discussion on a subject of a high necessity for participation in aplurality of subjects of the meeting, and leave the meeting at the timeof discussion on a subject of no necessity for participation.

In this case, the notification needs to indicate not the contents ofindividual subjects, but chiefly a time series only, such as a progressschedule of the subjects. The notification therefore does not includethe contents of the subjects. In this case, unspecified persons notplanning to participate in the meeting are difficult to know thecontents of the subjects.

Accordingly, even when a meeting to be held is an open meeting intendedto collect knowledgeable persons from a variety of fields and gatherknowledge for use of solutions to subjects of the meeting, unspecifiedknowledgeable persons not planning to participate in the meeting aredifficult to know the contents of the subjects.

Incidentally, it is possible that such unspecified knowledgeable personsare compelled to wait for completion of a printing job given to eachperson in front of an image forming apparatus during execution of theprinting job. When these unspecified knowledgeable persons are notifiedabout subjects of a meeting during execution of the printing job and inthe middle of the meeting, the persons and the knowledge of the personsmay be collectable at the meeting from a wide variety of fields.

It is still difficult, however, for the related-art disclosed in JP2011-061702 A to encourage the persons waiting for completion of theprinting job to participate in the meeting as in the foregoing manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed to solve the aforementionedproblems. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imageforming apparatus, an information processing system, an image formingmethod, and a program, as technologies capable of encouraging a personwaiting for completion of a printing job to participate in a meeting.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an imageforming apparatus that forms an image on paper in accordance with aprinting job, reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises:a communication unit that receives meeting information concerning ameeting; a storage unit that stores the meeting information received bythe communication unit; an editing control unit that edits the meetinginformation stored in the storage unit in accordance with an executiontime of the printing job; an operation display unit that freely outputsimages or voices captured in the meeting based on the meetinginformation edited by the editing control unit; and an output controlunit that controls output of the images or voices captured in themeeting and output from the operation display unit, wherein the outputcontrol unit finishes output of the images or voices captured in themeeting and output from the operation display unit before completion ofthe printing job.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the editingcontrol unit preferably edits the meeting information stored in thestorage unit in accordance with progress in the meeting.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the editingcontrol unit preferably edits a reproduction time of the images orvoices captured in the meeting such that the reproduction time becomesthe execution time of the printing job or shorter.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the editingcontrol unit preferably adjusts a ratio of a first reproduction time ofedited contents of the meeting information to a second reproduction timeof real-time contents of the images or voices captured in the meeting inaccordance with a knowledge level of a user who has instructed theprinting job.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises: a database that containsa plurality of registered users, and knowledge levels of the pluralityof registered users in association with the plurality of registeredusers; and an authentication unit that authenticates whether or not theuser corresponds to one of the plurality of registered users containedin the database, wherein the editing control unit preferably adjusts theratio of the first reproduction time to the second reproduction timebased on the knowledge level of the registered user authenticated by theauthentication when the authentication unit authenticates the user asone of the plurality of registered users.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises an analysis unit thatanalyzes details of the printing job, wherein the editing control unitpreferably adjusts the ratio of the first reproduction time to thesecond reproduction time based on the details of the printing jobanalyzed by the analysis unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises: an audio communicationunit that transmits voices of the user to a place where the meeting isbeing held; and an image transmission unit that transmits images of theuser to the place where the meeting is being held.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises a transmission unit thattransmits the images or voices captured in the meeting and output fromthe operation display unit to a terminal.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises a generation unit thatgenerates display contents output from the operation display unit,wherein the generation unit preferably generates selection informationfor selecting one of meetings, and addition information for addingpriority to images captured in the selected meeting based on theknowledge level.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises a clocking unit thatclocks an elapsed time from a start time of the meeting to a currenttime, wherein the output control unit preferably outputs the images orvoices captured in the meeting in real time from the operation displayunit when the printing job arrives before an elapse of a near-startdetermination time clocked by the clocking unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises an image forming unitthat forms an image, wherein the editing control unit preferably outputssummary contents corresponding to a summary of the meeting informationfrom the operation display unit when the printing job arrives after anelapse of a near-end determination time clocked by the clocking unit.

According to the image forming apparatus of the aspect, the imageforming apparatus preferably further comprises an image processing unitthat forms, on the image forming unit, summary contents corresponding toa summary of the meeting information when the printing job arrives afteran elapse of the near-end determination time clocked by the clockingunit.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, aninformation processing system reflecting one aspect of the presentinvention comprises: an image forming apparatus described above; acollection unit that collects sound from the meeting; an imaging unitthat captures an image of the meeting; and an interface unit thattransmits the sound collected by the collection unit from the meeting tothe audio communication unit, and transmits the image of the meetingcaptured by the imaging unit to the image transmission unit.

According to the information processing system, a person waiting forcompletion of a printing job can be encouraged to participate in ameeting, similarly to encouragement by the image forming apparatus.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, an imageforming method performed by an image forming apparatus that forms animage on paper in accordance with a printing job, reflecting one aspectof the present invention comprises: a communication step of receivingmeeting information concerning a meeting; a storage step of storing themeeting information received by the communication step; an editingcontrol step of editing the meeting information stored by the storagestep in accordance with an execution time of the printing job; anoperation display step of freely outputting images or voices captured inthe meeting based on the meeting information edited by the editingcontrol step; and an output control step of controlling output of theimages or voices captured in the meeting and output by the operationdisplay step, wherein the output control step finishes output of theimages or voices captured in the meeting and output by the operationdisplay step before completion of the printing job.

According to the image forming method, a person waiting for completionof a printing job can be encouraged to participate in a meeting,similarly to encouragement by the image forming apparatus.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect, anon-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable programreflecting one aspect of the present invention causes a computercontrolling an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper inaccordance with a printing job to execute: a communication unit thatreceives meeting information concerning a meeting; a storage unit thatstores the meeting information received by the communication unit; anediting control unit that edits the meeting information stored in thestorage unit in accordance with an execution time of the printing job;an operation display unit that freely outputs images or voices capturedin the meeting based on the meeting information edited by the editingcontrol unit; and an output control unit that controls output of theimages or voices captured in the meeting and output from the operationdisplay unit, wherein the output control unit finishes output of theimages or voices captured in the meeting and output from the operationdisplay unit before completion of the printing job.

According to the program, a person waiting for completion of a printingjob can be encouraged to participate in a meeting, similarly toencouragement by the image forming apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more fully understood from the detaileddescription given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are givenby way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a general configuration ofan information processing system according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of an image forming apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a configuration example of functions ofthe information processing system according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a sequence of a control example according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of meeting informationdisplayed on a display unit of an operation display unit according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of switching timing between anedited video and a real-time image contained in meeting informationdisplayed on the display unit of the operation display unit according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an estimation process of a knowledge levelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a general configuration ofan information processing system according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of meeting informationdisplayed on the display unit of the operation display unit according tothe second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a summary material for ameeting displayed on the display unit of the operation display unitaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention isnot limited to the illustrated examples.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a general configuration ofan information processing system 1 according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an image formingapparatus 3 and a meeting support device 5 are connected to each othervia a network 9 in the information processing system 1. The imageforming apparatus 3 is configured to perform a function as an MFP, andalso to transmit and receive various types of signals to and from themeeting support device 5, as will be detailed below. The meeting supportdevice 5 is installed in a meeting space where a meeting is held, orother places to support the meeting, as will be detailed below. Forexample, the meeting support device 5 is provided in a meeting spacewhere an open meeting is held to collect knowledgeable persons from avariety of fields, in a state that the image forming apparatus 3 isdisposed at an installation place different from the meeting space. Inthis case, the meeting support device 5 transmits images or voicescaptured in the meeting space of the open meeting to the image formingapparatus 3 via the network 9. The image forming apparatus 3 reproducesa video containing the images or voices received from the meetingsupport device 5 after editing, or without editing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the image formingapparatus 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 3 includes aprinter unit 11, a power source unit 13, a control unit 15, a scannerunit 17, an operation display unit 21, a discharge tray 23, papercassettes 25 a to 25 c, and others. The printer unit 11, the powersource unit 13, and the control unit 15 are contained in a housing ofthe image forming apparatus 3.

Each of the paper cassettes 25 a to 25 c is freely drawable from thehousing of the image forming apparatus 3. The paper cassettes 25 a, 25b, and 25 c are hereinafter collectively referred to as paper cassettes25 where no distinction therebetween is not particularly needed. Each ofthe paper cassettes 25 a, 25 b, and 25 c stores paper of a sizedifferent for each cassette. Sheets of the paper stored in each of thepaper cassettes 25 are fed sheet by sheet at the time of printing, andsupplied to the printer unit 11. Note that the number of the papercassettes 25 is not limited to three as specified in the examplepresented herein.

The discharge tray 23 is located in the housing of the image formingapparatus 3 above an area storing the printer unit 11, and below an areastoring the scanner unit 17. A sheet on which an image is formed by theprinter unit 11 is discharged from the interior of the housing to thedischarge tray 23.

The operation display unit 21 is disposed in an upper part of the imageforming apparatus 3, and on the front side where the paper cassettes 25are freely drawable from the housing. The operation display unit 21 isconfigured to receive an operation from a user, and freely display atleast either a result of the operation received from the user, or aninternal status of the image forming apparatus 3, as will be detailedbelow.

The printer unit 11 forms an image on a sheet stored in one of the papercassettes 25 or a not-shown manual bypass tray by using anelectrographic processing technology, as will be detailed below. Theprinter unit 11 forms an appropriate color image by synthesizing imagesin four colors, or five colors including a spot color based on a tandemsystem.

The scanner unit 17 is disposed in an upper part of the image formingapparatus 3. The scanner unit 17 includes an automatic document feeder17 a. Documents placed on a document tray are sequentially supplied tothe scanner unit 17 by the automatic document feeder 17 a. An image oneach of the supplied documents is read as analog image data by anot-shown image sensor of the scanner unit 17.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of functions of theinformation processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the meeting support device 5includes an imaging unit 51, a collection unit 53, an audio output unit55, and an interface unit 57. The imaging unit 51 captures an image of ameeting. The interface unit 57 transmits video data indicating an imageof a meeting captured by the imaging unit 51 to the image formingapparatus 3. The collection unit 53 collects voices from the meeting.The interface unit 57 transmits audio data corresponding to voicescollected by the collection unit 53 during a meeting to the imageforming apparatus 3. The audio output unit 55 outputs voicescorresponding to audio data transmitted from the image forming apparatus3 via the network 9 and the interface unit 57. An image output device 8is constituted by a projector, for example. The image output device 8projects video data or image data transmitted from the image formingapparatus 3 or other devices via the network 9 and the interface unit 57onto a wall, a screen or the like to display the video data or imagedata.

The image forming apparatus 3 includes a storage unit 16, a transmissionunit 19, a communication unit 27 and others, as well as the printer unit11, the control unit 15, the scanner unit 17, and the operation displayunit 21 described above.

The printer unit 11 includes an image processing unit 11 a and an imageforming unit 11 b. The image processing unit 11 a performs various typesof processing for analog image data read by the image sensor of thescanner unit 17. More specifically, the analog image data is convertedinto digital image data constituted by RGB codes by analog signalprocessing, A/D conversion, shading correction, image compression,magnification or the like. The image processing unit 11 a furtherconverts digital image data constituted by RGB codes into image data incolors of yellow (Y), magenta (B), cyan (C), and black (K), andtransmits a conversion result to the image forming unit 11 b.

The image forming unit 11 b forms a color image based on image datatransmitted from the image processing unit 11 a. The image forming unit11 b includes image forming units provided for each color, anintermediate transfer unit, and a fusing unit. In each of the imageforming units, a circumference of a photosensitive drum is charged by acharging unit. Light is applied to the photosensitive drum by a writingunit to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. The electrostaticlatent image on the photosensitive drum is visualized by a developingunit to form a toner image. The intermediate transfer unit receivestoner images transferred from the respective photosensitive drums, andsequentially transfers the toner images on a sheet for each color. Thefusing unit fuses the toner images transferred from the intermediatetransfer unit.

The operation display unit 21 includes an operation unit 21 a, a displayunit 21 b, and an audio output unit 21 d. The operation unit 21 a isconstituted by a plurality of operation buttons, and configured toreceive operations from a user. The display unit 21 b is constituted bya touch panel display including a touch panel and a display, andconfigured to show a guidance screen or other various types of screensto the user. The display unit 21 b displays images of the operationbuttons operated for touch operations, and receives touch operationsfrom the user. The audio output unit 21 d outputs voices correspondingto audio data transmitted from the meeting support device 5 via thenetwork 9.

The operation display unit 21 further includes an imaging unit 21 c andan audio input unit 21 e. The imaging unit 21 c captures an image of theuser. Video data corresponding to an image of the user captured by theimaging unit 21 c is transmitted to the meeting support device 5 via thenetwork 9. The audio input unit 21 e receives voices from the user.Audio data corresponding to voices of the user received by the audioinput unit 21 e is transmitted to the meeting support device 5 via thenetwork 9.

The communication unit 27 receives meeting information about a meeting.The meeting information about a meeting is constituted by audio datacollected by the collection unit 53, and video data captured by theimaging unit 51. The meeting information about a meeting may be data onmeeting materials.

The storage unit 16 stores meeting information received via thecommunication unit 27. The storage unit 16 includes a cache memory 16 a,a main memory 16 b, and a database 16 c, and stores meeting informationin the main memory 16 b via the cache memory 16 a. The database 16 c isused at the time of an authentication process detailed below. Thedatabase 16 c contains a plurality of registered users, and a pluralityof knowledge levels of the registered users in association with theregistered users.

The transmission unit 19 transmits images or voices captured in ameeting and output from the operation display unit 21 to a terminal. Thetransmission unit 19 includes a wired transmission unit 19 a and awireless transmission unit 19 b. When the terminal is connected to thenetwork 9 by wire, images or voices captured in a meeting aretransmitted from the wired transmission unit 19 a to the terminal. Whenthe terminal is constituted by a wirelessly connectable device and notconnected to the network 9 by wire, images or voices captured in ameeting are transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 19 b to theterminal.

While the communication unit 27 and the transmission unit 19 areprovided as separate function elements herein, the respective units 27and 19 may be integrated into one element having a function fortransmitting and receiving various types of data.

The control unit 15 includes specific main constituent elements ofnot-shown central processing unit (CPU), read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), and input/output (I/O) interface. The CPU ofthe control unit 15 reads programs corresponding to processing detailsfrom the ROM or the storage unit 16, loads the read programs to the RAM,and operates in cooperation with the loaded programs to controloperations of respective units of the image forming apparatus 3.

Accordingly, the control unit 15 for controlling operations of the imageforming apparatus 3 is realizable by a microcomputer chiefly constitutedby the not-show CPU, ROM, RAM, and I/O interface. Various types offunctions such as an editing control unit 31, an output control unit 32,an authentication unit 33, an analysis unit 34, an audio communicationunit 35, an image transmission unit 36, a generation unit 37, and aclocking unit 38 are performed under predetermined control programsexecuted by the control unit 15.

The respective functions performed by the control unit 15 arehereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. 4 shows asequence of a control example according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of meetinginformation displayed on the display unit 21 b of the operation displayunit 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.6 is a view illustrating an example of switching timing between anedited video and a real-time image contained in meeting informationdisplayed on the display unit 21 b of the operation display unit 21according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is aflowchart showing an estimation process for estimating a knowledge levelaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example situation that the image forming apparatus 3receives a printing job from a terminal of a user after a start of ameeting. With a start of the meeting, images or voices captured in themeeting are transmitted from the imaging unit 51 of the meeting supportdevice 5 to the communication unit 27 of the image forming apparatus 3(S11). The image forming apparatus 3 initiates storage of the videostransmitted from the imaging unit 51 of the meeting support device 5(S21).

When a printing job is transmitted from the terminal of the user to theimage forming apparatus 3 in this condition during the meeting, theimage forming apparatus 3 starts the printing job under control by theterminal of the user (S31). The editing control unit 31 of the imageforming apparatus 3 obtains an execution time of the printing job, andedits a video by using the images or voices transmitted before thearrival of the printing job to create an edited video (S22, S23). Whenediting the video, the editing control unit 31 of the image formingapparatus 3 summarizes the video such that the video ends beforeexpiration of the execution time of the printing job. The image formingapparatus 3 starts display of the edited video on the operation displayunit 21, and finishes display of the edited video on the operationdisplay unit 21 by the end of a wait time for the printing job (S24,S25, S32). In other words, an end time of processing in step S25 ismatched with an end time of processing in step S32. When a meeting endnotice is subsequently transmitted from the meeting support device 5 tothe image forming apparatus 3, the image forming apparatus 3 endsstorage of the video (S12, S26).

As described above, the edited video is a video summarized such that thereproduction time of the video finishes before expiration of theexecution time of the printing job. More specifically, any one offollowing first to fifth processes, or any combination thereof ispreferably performed for creation of the edited video.

The first process performs a several-times speed-reproduction processfor images or voices. The second process deletes silent scenes possiblygenerated several times during a meeting. The third process extracts apart for a length of predetermined seconds at intervals of a fixed unit,and joins the extracted parts. For example, a head part for a length often seconds is extracted at intervals of five minutes of an originalimage, and joined with other extracted head parts. The fourth processcombines images containing a meeting material appearing in the meetingwith images showing the entire meeting to compress meeting information.The fifth process displays participants of the meeting by using a facerecognition function. The user identifies the participants of themeeting based on the fifth process. Accordingly, the user easilydetermines whether or not the meeting includes contents relating to theuser based on the fifth process.

FIG. 5 illustrates a display example of an edited video created byperforming any one or any combination of the first to fifth processes.As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display unit 21 b of the operation displayunit 21 displays meeting information concerning the meeting in each ofdisplay areas 61 to 65. More specifically, the display area 61 displaysvideo editing result, a remaining time of a printing job, and a list ofmeeting participants. The display area 62 displays matters concerning asubject a, and the meeting participants. The display area 63 displaysthe meeting participants of the meeting. The display area 64 displaysmatters concerning a material I, such as a thumbnail image of thematerial I. The display area 65 displays matters concerning a materialII, such as a thumbnail image of the material II.

The editing control unit 31 edits meeting information to be stored inthe storage unit 16 in accordance with the execution time of theprinting job. The operation display unit 21 outputs images or voicescaptured in the meeting based on the meeting information edited by theediting control unit 31. The output control unit 32 controls the imagesor voices captured in the meeting and output from the operation displayunit 21. The output control unit 32 finishes output of the images orvoices captured in the meeting from the operation display unit 21 beforecompletion of the printing job.

More specifically, the editing control unit 31 edits the meetinginformation to be stored in the storage unit 16 in accordance with theprogress of the meeting. The editing control unit 31 edits thereproduction time of the images or voices captured in the meeting suchthat the reproduction finishes before completion of the printing job.

The video edited by the editing control unit 31 is created as a videointended to be presented to the user. However, real-time images may bemore appropriate for some users than an edited video is. Morespecifically, when the user has high-level knowledges, it is moreeffective to notify the user about the current status of progress of themeeting and encourages the user to participate in the meeting in theexecution period of the printing job, rather than to spend this periodonly for browsing of the edited video by the user. In other words, whenthe user has high-level knowledges, effective presentation of themeeting information to the user is realizable by switching displaybetween the edited video and the real-time images.

More specifically, it is preferable that a ratio X of a firstreproduction time Y1, which is a reproduction time of the edited videoas a summary of the images or voices captured in the meeting for aperiod from a meeting start time to a meeting end time, to a secondreproduction time Y2, which is a reproduction time of the real-timeimages of the current meeting, is set within the period from the meetingstart time to the meeting end time as illustrated in FIG. 6. It ispreferable that the ratio X is varied in accordance with the knowledgelevel of the user as illustrated in FIG. 7.

According to an example shown in FIG. 7, in a first case where the userexecutes a printing job requiring authentication, the knowledgedetermined based on the database 16 c storing the knowledge level of theuser, and the personal information about the user in association withthe knowledge level. In a second case where the user executes a printingjob not requiring authentication, the knowledge level is determinedbased on the details of a printing job. For example, the knowledge levelis determined based on keywords extracted from a plurality of charactersprinted by the printing job.

In step S41, it is determined whether or not the printing job hasstarted. When it is determined that the printing job has started, theflow proceeds to step S42. When a start of the printing job is notconfirmed, the flow returns to step S41.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not an authentication requesthas been issued. When it is determined that an authentication requesthas been issued, the flow proceeds to step S43. When issue of anauthentication request is not confirmed, the flow proceeds to step S45.

In step S43, the user is identified based on authentication. In stepS44, a knowledge level is obtained from the database 16 c, whereafterthe flow proceeds to step S48.

In step S45, characters to be printed by the printing job are identifiedbased on analysis of the details of the printing job. In step S46,keywords contained in the identified characters are added. In step S47,a knowledge area and a knowledge volume of the user are estimated,whereafter the flow proceeds to step S48.

The process for estimating a knowledge area and a knowledge volume ofthe user may be executed in accordance with the degree of correlationbetween keywords stored in the image forming apparatus 3 beforehand, andthe identified keywords, for example.

It is assumed, for example, that a keyword group A in A field isincluded in keyword groups in a plurality of fields contained in thedatabase 16 c.

When all of a plurality of identified keywords are contained in thekeyword group in A field, it is estimated that the knowledge area of theuser is A field, and that the knowledge volume of the user is in a highrank. When a part of the plurality of identified keywords are containedin the keyword group in A field with a part of the other identifiedkeywords similar to the keyword group in A field but not correctly used,it is estimated that the knowledge area of the user is A field, and thatthe knowledge volume of the user is in a middle rank. When the pluralityof identified keywords are similar to the keyword group in A group butnot correctly used, it is estimated that the knowledge area of the useris A field, and that the knowledge volume of the user is in a low rank.

When none of the plurality of identified keywords is contained in thekeyword group in A field unlike the above cases, for example, theknowledge area of the user is not A field. In this case, the identifiedkeywords are compared with keyword groups in other fields.

Note that the process for estimating the knowledge area and theknowledge volume of the user is not particularly limited to the examplepresented herein.

In step S48, the knowledge level of the user is determined. In step S49,the ratio X of the edited video to the real-time image is adjusted. Instep S50, the edited video is created.

In this case, the ratio X of the first reproduction time Y1, which is atime for reproducing the edited contents indicating the meetinginformation, to the second reproduction time Y2, which is a time forreproducing the real-time contents indicating the images or voicescaptured in the meeting, is adjusted by the editing control unit 31 inaccordance with the knowledge level of the user having instructed theprinting job.

More specifically, the authentication unit 33 authenticates whether ornot the user is one of a plurality of registered users registered in thedatabase 16 c. When it is authenticated by the authentication unit 33that the user is one of the plurality of registered users, the editingcontrol unit 31 adjusts the ratio X of the first reproduction time Y1 tothe second reproduction time Y2 based on the knowledge level of theregistered user authenticated by the authentication unit 33.

The analysis unit 34 analyzes the details of the printing job. Theediting control unit 31 adjusts the ratio X of the first reproductiontime Y1 to the second reproduction time Y2 based on the details of theprinting job analyzed by the analysis unit 34.

Note that the user is capable of participating in a remote open meetingby using the imaging unit 21 c and the audio input unit 21 e duringdisplay of real-time images. More specifically, the audio input unit 21e transmits voices of the user to the outside in cooperation with theaudio communication unit 35. The audio communication unit 35 transmitsthe voices of the user to a place where the meeting is being held. Theimaging unit 21 c transmits images of the user to the outside incooperation with the image transmission unit 36. The image transmissionunit 36 transmits the images of the user to a place where a meeting isbeing held.

In addition, the meeting support device 5 is capable of directlycommunicating with a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone of the user,at an appropriate time by using a dedicated application installed in themobile terminal. Accordingly, even after leaving the image formingapparatus 3 in the middle of the meeting, the user is capable ofcontinuously and seamlessly participating in the meeting by using ameeting function transferred to the mobile terminal.

More specifically, the transmission unit 19 transmits images or voicescaptured in the meeting and output from the operation display unit 21 tothe terminal. In this case, the terminal to which the images or voicescaptured in the meeting are transmitted may be either the terminal ofthe user having transmitted the printing job to the image formingapparatus 3, or the mobile terminal described above.

Note that only the user waiting for completion of the printing job needsto be encouraged to participate in the meeting. In this case, the userhaving transmitted the printing job to the image forming apparatus 3 maybe encouraged to participate in the meeting based on the images orvoices captured in the meeting and displayed on the display unit 21 b ofthe operation display unit 21 as a consequence of a state that the userhaving transmitted the printing job to the image forming apparatus 3stands in front of the image forming apparatus 3.

Accordingly, when a camera and a microphone included in the mobileterminal are configured to substitute for the functions of the audioinput unit 21 e and the imaging unit 21 c, the user may participate in aremote open meeting by linkage between the mobile terminal and the imageforming apparatus 3 including the audio communication unit 35 and theimage transmission unit 36 in a state of connection between the mobileterminal, the image forming apparatus 3, and the meeting support device5 until completion of the printing job. After completion of the printingjob, the user may participate in the remote open meeting in a state ofconnection between the mobile terminal and the meeting support device 5in the manner described above.

As described above, output of images or voices captured in the meetingfrom the operation display unit 21 finishes before completion of theprinting job according to this embodiment. In this case, the userwaiting for completion of the printing job is notified about thecontents of the meeting. Accordingly, the user waiting for completion ofthe printing job is encouraged to participate in the meeting by thisnotification.

In other words, an edited video of the meeting is presented to the userin a free time of the user corresponding to a waiting time forcompletion of the printing job to effectively supply the contents of themeeting to the user using the image forming apparatus 3 in a period offree time of the user. Moreover, the highly realistic edited videocaptured in the meeting and presented to the user using the imageforming apparatus 3 attracts interest in the contents of the meetingfrom the user, and encourages the user to participate in the openmeeting.

The images captured in the meeting and output from the operation displayunit 21 may be either still images or moving images. The images capturedin the meeting and output from the operation display unit 21 may becolor images or monochrome images. The images and voices captured in themeeting and output from the operation display unit 21 may besimultaneously output, or only either the images or the voices may beoutput.

According to this embodiment, the meeting information is edited inaccordance with the progress of the meeting. In this case, the meetinginformation is reconfigured in accordance with the progress of themeeting. Accordingly, reconfiguration of the meeting information isrealizable in accordance with the time of progression in the meetingfrom the start to the current time of the meeting.

According to this embodiment, the reproduction time of the images orvoices captured in the meeting is set to the execution time of theprinting job or shorter by editing. In this case, reproduction of theimages or voices captured in the meeting finishes before completion ofthe printing job. Accordingly, utilization of the execution time of theprinting job is achievable for reproduction of the images or voicescaptured in the meeting.

According to this embodiment, the ratio X of the reproduction time forreproducing the editing contents indicating the meeting informationedited, to the reproduction time for reproducing the real-time contentsindicating the images or voices captured in the meeting is adjusted inaccordance with the knowledge level of the user having instructed theprinting job. In this case, the user is notified about contentsappropriate for the user for a longer time than contents inappropriate.Accordingly, encouragement given to the user for participation in themeeting becomes more positive.

According to this embodiment, the ratio X of the first reproduction timeY1 to the second reproduction time Y2 is adjusted based on the knowledgelevel of the registered user authenticated by the authentication unit 33when the user is authenticated as one of the plurality of registeredusers by the authentication unit 33. In this case, the ratio X of thefirst reproduction time Y1 to the second reproduction time Y2 isadjustable appropriately for the registered user authenticated throughthe authenticating operation. Accordingly, accurate adjustment of theratio X of the first reproduction time Y1 to the second reproductiontime Y2 is realizable.

According to this embodiment, the ratio X of the first reproduction timeY1 to the second reproduction time Y2 is adjusted based on the detailsof the printing job analyzed by the analysis unit 34. In this case, theratio X of the first reproduction time Y1 to the second reproductiontime Y2 is adjusted based on the details of the printing job when theauthenticating operation is not performed. Accordingly, accurateadjustment of the ratio X of the first reproduction time Y1 to thesecond reproduction time Y2 is realizable.

According to this embodiment, voices and videos of the user aretransmitted to the place where the meeting is held, by using the audiocommunication unit 35 which transmits the voices of the user to theplace of the meeting, and the image transmission unit 36 which transmitsthe images of the user to the place of the meeting. Accordingly, theuser is capable of participating in the meeting even when the user islocated at a position away from the place of the meeting.

According to this embodiment, images or voices captured in the meetingare transmitted to the terminal. In this case, images and voices of theuser are transmitted via the terminal to the place where the meeting isheld. Accordingly, the user is capable of participating in the meetingeven when the user is located at a position away from the image formingapparatus 3.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, constituent parts similar to correspondingconstituent parts in the first embodiment have been given similarreference numbers, and the same description of these constituent partsis not repeated. Discussed in the second embodiment is an example ofmeetings simultaneously held at a plurality of places.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a general configuration ofan information processing system 2 according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 8, three meetings aresimultaneously in progress. In this case, the number of videos displayedon the operation display unit 21 may be regulated in accordance with theknowledge level of the user.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of meeting informationdisplayed on the display unit 21 b of the operation display unit 21according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, reproduced are edited videos of two meetingsdetermined as appropriate for the knowledge level of the user in thethree meetings simultaneously in progress. The user touches either adisplay area 73 or a display area 74 at an appropriate time to selectand reproduce one of the meetings.

More specifically, the generation unit 37 generates display contents tobe output from the operation display unit 21. In more detail, thegeneration unit 37 generates selection information for selecting one ofthe meetings, and addition information for adding priority to imagescaptured in the meeting based on the knowledge level.

For example, a display area 71 shows a list of meeting participants,thumbnail images of the material I and the material II, and images ofthe meeting participants for the subject a as illustrated in FIG. 9. Adisplay area 72 shows a list of meeting participants, thumbnail imagesof material IV and material V, and images of the meeting participantsfor a subject c. Each of display areas 73 and 74 shows an image of aselection button. The image of each selection button corresponds toselection information for selecting one of the meetings. Each of displayareas 75 and 77 displays an image of the degree of recommendation of themeeting with a rank. The image of the degree of recommendation of eachmeeting corresponds to the addition information for adding priority tothe images captured in the meeting based on the knowledge level.

As described above, there are generated the selection information forselecting one of the meetings, and the addition information for addingpriority to the images captured the meeting based on the knowledge levelaccording to this embodiment. In this case, the user is encouraged toparticipate in the meeting in accordance with priority determined basedon the knowledge level of the user. Accordingly, participation in themeeting by a person having a higher level of knowledge about thecontents of the meeting is realizable.

Third Embodiment

In a third embodiment, constituent parts similar to correspondingconstituent parts in the first and second embodiments have been givensimilar reference numbers, and the same description of these constituentparts is not repeated. Discussed in the third embodiment is an exampleof meeting information presented to a user at a time close to an end ofa meeting.

Following situations may be caused in accordance with a request time forrequesting a printing job to the image forming apparatus 3 by the user,and progress of a meeting. A first situation is that the printing jobstarts within a predetermined time from the start of the meeting. Forexample, the printing job starts after an elapse of 2 minutes from themeeting start in the one-hour meeting. A second situation is that theprinting job starts within a predetermined time before the end of themeeting. For example, the printing job starts after an elapse of 55minutes from the start of the meeting in the one-hour meeting.

In the first situation, images or voices sufficient for creation of anedited video are not yet stored in the storage unit 16. Accordingly,images or voices currently captured from the meeting space of themeeting are reproduced on the display unit 21 b of the operation displayunit 21 of the image forming apparatus 3 without creating an editedvideo to transmit the meeting information to the user.

According to the second situation, it is assumable that the meeting endsbefore completion of viewing of the edited video of the meeting.Accordingly, summarized contents of the meeting information in the formof minutes of proceedings are displayed rather than an edited video ofthe meeting in consideration of the importance of compression of themeeting information. In this case, the meeting information summarized inthe form of minutes of proceedings may be printed.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a summary materialconcerning the meeting and displayed on the display unit 21 b of theoperation display unit 21 according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention. The example illustrated in FIG. 10 corresponds to thesecond situation described above. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a displayarea 81 shows the date and time of the meeting, and the place where themeeting is being held. A display area 82 shows a list of meetingparticipants. A display area 83 shows a subject e of the meeting. Adisplay area 84 shows an investigation result of the subject e. Adisplay area 85 shows keywords in the meeting material. A display area86 shows thumbnail images of a slide material list as the meetingmaterial.

More specifically, the clocking unit 38 clocks an elapsed time from, thestart time of the meeting to the current time. The output control unit32 outputs images or voices captured in the meeting through theoperation display unit 21 in real time when a printing job arrivesbefore an elapse of a near-start determination time clocked by theclocking unit 38. The near-start determination time herein refers to athreshold for determining whether or not the current time is close tothe meeting start time. The near-start determination time is set to 2minutes in the first situation, for example. However, the near-startdetermination time is not limited to this specific example.

The editing control unit 31 outputs the summary contents of the meetinginformation from the operation display unit 21 when a printing jobarrives after an elapse of a near-end determination time clocked by theclocking unit 38. The near-end determination time herein refers to athreshold for determining whether or not the current time is close tothe meeting end time. The near-end determination time is set to 55minutes in the second situation, for example. However, the near-enddetermination time is not limited to this specific example.

The image processing unit 11 a may form, on the image forming unit 11 b,the summary contents of the meeting information when a printing jobarrives after an elapse of the near-end determination time clocked bythe clocking unit 38. In this case, the summary contents of the meetinginformation are printed, wherefore the printed matter thus produced maybe used by the user as a summary material. For example, the user mayrefer to the printed matter after the meeting ends. Accordingly,discussion about the contents of the meeting between the user and atleast one of the meeting participants is realizable.

According to this embodiment described above, images or voices capturedin the meeting are output from the operation display unit 21 in realtime when a printing job arrives before an elapse of the near-startdetermination time clocked by the clocking unit 38. In this case, theimages and voices captured in the meeting are output in real timeimmediately after the start of the meeting without editing meetinginformation. Accordingly, brief notification about the contents of themeeting is given even immediately after the start of the meeting.

According to this embodiment, summary contents of the meetinginformation are output from the operation display unit 21 when aprinting job arrives after an elapse of the near-end determination timeclocked by the clocking unit 38. In this case, notification about thesummary contents of the meeting information is issued immediately beforethe end of the meeting without output of images or voices captured inthe meeting in real time. Accordingly, brief notification about thecontents of the meeting is given even immediately before the end of themeeting.

According to this embodiment, the summary contents of the meetinginformation may be formed on the image forming unit 11 b when a printingjob arrives after an elapse of the near-end determination time clockedby the clocking unit 38. In this case, notification about the summarycontents of the meeting information is issued immediately before the endof the meeting without output of images or voices captured in themeeting in real time. Accordingly, brief notification about the contentsof the meeting is given even immediately before the end of the meeting.

The present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 3and the information processing systems 1 and 2 according to therespective embodiments described herein, but may be modified withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

For example, while the audio output unit 21 d is included in theoperation display unit 21 in the respective embodiments describedherein, the present invention is not limited to this specific example.The audio output unit 21 d may be provided separately from the operationdisplay unit 21, for example.

While the display unit 21 b is a touch panel display according to therespective embodiments described herein, the display unit 21 b may be adisplay not provided with a touch panel. In addition, the configurationof the display is not particularly limited, but may be constituted byeither a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL)display.

While the imaging unit 21 c and the audio input unit 21 e are includedin the operation display unit 21 in the respective embodiments describedherein, the present invention is not limited to this specific example.For example, the imaging unit 21 c and the audio input unit 21 e may beprovided at positions away from the operation display unit 21.

While the meeting support device 5 is disposed at the place where themeeting is being held according to the respective embodiments describedherein, the present invention is not limited to this specific example.For example, a smartphone may be used at the place where the meeting isbeing held. In this case, the smartphone transmits images or voicescaptured in the meeting to the image forming apparatus 3 to realizefunctions similar to the corresponding functions described above. Inother words, any configuration capable of transmitting images or voicescaptured in the meeting to the image forming apparatus 3 is adoptable.

While the material I or the like contained in the edited video isdisplayed on the display unit 21 b of the operation display unit 21 as athumbnail image according to the respective embodiments describedherein, the present invention is not limited to this specific example.For example, a title of the material I or the like may be displayed. Athumbnail image may contain a selected page in the material I or thelike.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustratedand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scopeof the present invention being interpreted by terms of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus that forms an image onpaper in accordance with a printing job, the image forming apparatuscomprising: a communication unit that receives meeting informationconcerning a meeting; a storage unit that stores the meeting informationreceived by the communication unit; an editing control unit that editsthe meeting information stored in the storage unit in accordance with anexecution time of the printing job; an operation display unit thatfreely outputs images or voices captured in the meeting based on themeeting information edited by the editing control unit; and an outputcontrol unit that controls output of the images or voices captured inthe meeting and output from the operation display unit, wherein theoutput control unit finishes output of the images or voices captured isthe meeting and output from the operation display unit before completionof the printing job.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim1, wherein the editing control unit edits the meeting information storedin the storage unit in accordance with progress in the meeting.
 3. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the editingcontrol unit edits a reproduction time of the images or voices capturedin the meeting such that the reproduction time becomes the executiontime of the printing job or shorter.
 4. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the editing control unit adjusts a ratioof a first reproduction time of edited contents of the meetinginformation to a second reproduction time of real-time contents of theimages or voices captured in the meeting in accordance with a knowledgelevel of a user who has instructed the printing job.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a databasethat contains a plurality of registered users, and knowledge levels ofthe plurality of registered users in association with the plurality ofregistered users; and an authentication unit that authenticates whetheror not the user corresponds to one of the plurality of registered userscontained in the database, wherein the editing control unit adjusts theratio of the first reproduction time to the second reproduction timebased on the knowledge level of the registered user authenticated by theauthentication when the authentication unit authenticates the user asone of the plurality of registered users.
 6. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 5, further comprising an analysis unit that analyzesdetails of the printing job, wherein the editing control unit adjuststhe ratio of the first reproduction time to the second reproduction timebased on the details of the printing job analyzed by the analysis unit.7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:an audio communication unit that transmits voices of the user to a placewhere the meeting is being held; and an image transmission unit thattransmits images of the user to the place where the meeting is beingheld.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, furthercomprising a transmission unit that transmits the images or voicescaptured in the meeting and output from the operation display unit to aterminal.
 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, furthercomprising a generation unit that generates display contents output fromthe operation display unit, wherein the generation unit generatesselection information for selecting one of meetings, and additioninformation for adding priority to images captured in the selectedmeeting based on the knowledge level.
 10. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 9, further comprising a clocking unit that clocks anelapsed time from a start time of the meeting to a current time, whereinthe output control unit outputs the images or voices captured in themeeting in real time from the operation display unit when the printingjob arrives before an elapse of a near-start determination time clockedby the clocking unit.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim10, further comprising an image forming unit that forms an image,wherein the editing control unit outputs summary contents correspondingto a summary of the meeting information from the operation display unitwhen the printing job arrives after an elapse of a near-enddetermination time clocked by the clocking unit.
 12. The image formingapparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an image processingunit that forms, on the image forming unit, summary contentscorresponding to a summary of the meeting information when the printingjob arrives after an elapse of the near-end determination time clockedby the clocking unit.
 13. An information processing system comprising:an image forming apparatus according to claim 7; a collection unit thatcollects sound from the meeting; an imaging unit that captures an imageof the meeting; and an interface unit that transmits the sound collectedby the collection unit from the meeting to the audio communication unit,and transmits the image of the meeting captured by the imaging unit tothe image transmission unit.
 14. An image forming method performed by animage forming apparatus that forms an image on paper in accordance witha printing job, the image forming method comprising: a communicationstep of receiving meeting information concerning a meeting; a storagestep of storing the meeting information received by the communicationstep; an editing control step of editing the meeting information storedby the storage step in accordance with an execution time of the printingjob; an operation display step of freely outputting images or voicescaptured in the meeting based on the meeting information edited by theediting control step; and an output control step of controlling outputof the images or voices captured in the meeting and output by theoperation display step, wherein the output control step finishes outputof the images or voices captured in the meeting and output by theoperation display step before completion of the printing job.
 15. Anon-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program forcausing a computer controlling an image forming apparatus that forms animage on paper in accordance with a printing job to execute: acommunication unit that receives meeting information concerning ameeting; a storage unit that stores the meeting information received bythe communication unit; an editing control unit that edits the meetinginformation stored in the storage unit in accordance with an executiontime of the printing job; an operation display unit that freely outputsimages or voices captured in the meeting based on the meetinginformation edited by the editing control unit; and an output controlunit that controls output of the images or voices captured in themeeting and output from the operation display unit, wherein the outputcontrol unit finishes output of the images or voices captured in themeeting and output from the operation display unit before completion ofthe printing job.